Gate for railway-crossings.



P. HAMER.

GATE FOB RAILWAY OBOSBINGS.

APPLIOATIOB rman no. 31, 1007.

917,939. Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909. 2 HBBTS-SEBET 2.

swmmtoz Reta Hamezf P. HAMEB.

GATE FOB- BAILWAY GBOSSIRGB.

APPLIOATIOH nun 1:30.31. m1.

"n "can" PI'TIII m, IIASIIINONII, m c.

PETER HAMER, OF CADDO, OKLAHOMA.

GATE FOR RAILWAY-CROSSINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Application filed December 31, 1907. Serial No. 408,715.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER I'IAMER, citizen of the United States residingat Caddo, in the county of Bryan and State of Oklahoma, have inventedcertain new and useful Imrovements in Gates for RailwayCrossings, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The fpresent invention provides novel means or safe guardingl a roadwayinter seeted by a railroad so t at persons may be warned in ample timeof the approach of a trainso as to avoid a casualty, said warning beingmade more e'fi'ective by interposing a learner to revent the crossing ofthe railway track, sai safety means being automatically actuated by themoving train, being set on the approach of the train and restoredtonormal condition after the train has passed the crossin For a fufiunderstanding of the invention and the merits thereof reference is to behad to the following description and accompanyin drawings. TVhile theinvention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes inthe structure and minor details without departin from the spirit oressential features thereo still the preferred embodiment is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a railway crossing provided withsafety appliances embodying the invention, parts eing broken away'toshow more clearly the relative arrangement and the construction ofcertain elements. Fi 2 is a side view of the safety devices, parts eingbroken away and showing the arrangement of the elements when the atesare lowered. Fi 3 is a transverse sectlon on the line (vs-ac of ig. 2.Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of an o crating wheel, as seen fromthe inner side: ig. 5 is a perspective view of a lantern and supportshowing the position of the same when the gates are elevated. Fi 6 is aperspective view of the parts shown in Fig. 5, illustrating theirarrangement when the gates are lowered. Fig. 7 is an elevation of one ofthe operating wheels 7 as seen from the inner side showing the normalppsition of the parts when the gate is open. ig. 8 is a view of theparts shown in Fig. 7 illustrating the relation of the arts when th topJshaft and cooperating spring.

orresponding and like parts are referred with operating, wheels e gateis closed. Fi 9 is a section on the line yy of Fig. 3, s owingto in thefollowing description and indicated in all the views of the drawings bythe same reference characters.

The invention may be either applied to a single or a double track andmay embody one or more gates.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 the invention is shown in connection with aroadway inter-' sected b double tracks, a air of gates bein arrange atthe outer si e of each of sai tracks.

At any safe distance from the crossing at each side thereof are locatedtwo shafts 1 and 2, the same lying one above the other and extendingtransversely of the tracks and mounted in suitable bearin s to receivean oscillatory movement. Eac i shaft 1 is provided with a trip 3normally extended vertically to be engaged by a part of the train so asto be depressed. A cross bar 4 fast to each shaft 1 and extended fromopposite sides thereof, is normally ressed upon by means of a flatspring 5, which is secured to a tie or other convenient portion of theroadbed. The shafts 1 and 2 are adapted to be turned in either directionand the shafts 1, when relieved of the restraining influence of thetrain, are returned to normal position by means of the respectivecooperatmg springs 5'. An arm 6 rojects vertically from each shaft 1 andis adhpted to actuate the adjacent operatin wheel 7. It is to beunderstood that eac 1 shaft 1 is provided with a trip 3 and an arm 6 foreach track.

Each shaft 2 is provided at opposite ends 7 fast thereto. The 0 cratingwheels 7 are rooved in their outer e ges and each is-provided on itsinner side with an ap roximately U-sha ed s ring 10 fast at its 0 osedend to the w eel, t e arms being free and arranged upon 0 posite sidesof the adjacent arm 6. When t he shaft-1 is turned in one direction, itsarms 6 engage with members of the adjacent U-shaped springs 10 to effecta corresponding turning of the shaft 2. The space between the members ofthe U-shaped springs 10 is such as to permit the shaft 1 to return tonormal position after actuating the operating wheel 7 Without movingsaid operating wheel backward or to its normal position. Hence when theshaft 1 is tripped u on the ap roach of a train and the gates areowered, t ey remain in such lowered position until the train has clearedthe crossing and actuates the trip shaft upon the far side. By havingthe members of the parts 10 resilient, shock is avoided when the shaft 1is trip ed to actuate the operating wheel, the su den impact of the arm6 on a member of the part 10 being compensated for by the spring actionof said member.

A second operating Wheel 11 is provided for each gate and is preferablylocated opposite the same and is connected with the first mentionedoperating wheel 7 on the same side by cables or chains 12 and 13, saidconnections 12 and 13 bein attached to the respective operating whee s 7and 11 in such a manner as to cause the wheels 1 1 to move in oppositcdirections at the same time so that w en one connection 12 is moving tothe right, the other connect10n 13 1s at the same time moving to theleft. Pairs of guide pulleys 14 are located near the 0 crating wheels 7and 11 and give proper direction to the flexible connections, 12 and 13.The portions of the connections 12 and 13 between opposite pairs ofguide pulleys 14 are housed to protect them from the weather, dirt,stones or other matter which would tend to interfere materially withtheir free operation. The housing 15 consists of a ipe, the end portionsof which are split an forked to receive the airs of guide pulleys 14.Cables, chains or like flexible connections 16 and 17 are secured atopposite ends to the o crating wheels 11 so as to transmit motion romone to the other. Corresponding ends of the connections 16 and 17 areattached to opposite ortions of the respective operating wheel; 11 tocause them to move in opposite directions. Pairs of uide pulleys 18direct the connections 16 and 17 near the operating wheels 11 and aresupported by forked ends of a pipe 19 formin a housing for connections16 and 17. T e pipe 19, besides protecting the connections 16 and 17from the elements and from accumulations, such as dirt and stones, alsoprevents in'u to the parts 16 and 17 from passin ve ic es.

Each gate 20 consists of a ar secured to a shaft 21 mounted in bearingsof a post or support 22. The gate is counterbalanced in the accustomedway to insure free movement thereof so that the operating force mayovercome the inertia and friction of the parts. A cross bar 23 is fastto the outer end of each shaft 21 and its arms are connected to oppositesides of the adjacent operating wheel 11 by means of chains or cables 24and 25. Springs 26 of the contractile type are inte osed in the lengthof each connection 24 an 25 so as to neutralize shock that may resultfrom the quick movement of the operating wheel when actuated by themoving train. The gates 0 en upward and close downward by a pivota movement.

In operation, a train approaching the crossing from the right depressesthe right hand trip and actuates the right hand open ating wheel 7, andthrough the flexible connections lowers the gates and turns the lefthand operating wheel 7 toward the crossing. As the train actuates theleft hand trip on the far side after passing the crossing, the gates areelevated and the right hand operating wheel 7 is returned to normalposition to be again. actuated b the next train appreaching the crossing'rom the right. The same operation takes lace when a train aproaches thecrossing rom the left, the gates e' lowered upon the train actuating theleft liand operating lever 7 and again returned to normal position afterthe train has cleared the crossing and aetuates the right hand operatingwheel 7.

In order that the position of the gates may be seen at night and theirosition made known, a lantern 27 is carrie by each, and for this purposea rod 28 forming a support for the lantern, is attached at one end tothe gate and its op osite end is provided with two loops 29 an 30arranged at right angles to each other and having adjacent ortionsconnected by a part common to eac The loop 29 is at the extremity of therod 28 and occupies a position at right angles to the tracks. The loop30 is at the side of the rod 28 and is arranged 1e thwise of the tracks.When the ates are raised, the lantern 27 is suspended rom the terminalloop 29 and indicates safety along the road intersected by the railwaytracks. When the gates are lowered, the lantern 27 is sus ended from theside loop 30 and indicates Sanger along the roadway. The lanternautomatieall moves from the terminal loop 29 to the Ski loop 30 and viceversa, and in such movement is given a one-quarter turn, thereby showingsafety when the gates are ralsed and danger when the gates are lowered.When the gates are raised, the terminal loops 29 occupy the lowermostposition, hence the lantern handle hangs suspended from such loop. Whenthe gates are lowered, the loops 30 occupy a lower. position than theterminal loops 29 and lantern hanging sus ended from said loops 30indicate danger. he engaging part common to the two loops 29 and 30 issuch as to admit of the lantern automatically moving from one loop tothe other as the gate is either raised or lowered.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In means for protecting a railway crossing, the combination of agate, an operating w eel, spaced members applied to a side 0 theoperating wheel, connecting means between the operating wheel and gateembodymg flexible connections, gu de means for said flexibleconnections, a trip shaft, means for holding the trip shaft in a normalosition, and an arm rigid with the trip it and arranged to operatebetween the spaced members of the said operating wheel to move thelatter in one direction to operate the gate and to tpermit the return ofsaid arm and trip sha t to normal position without moving the 0 eratingwheel or gate.

2. n means for protecting a railway crossing, the combination of a gate,an o erating wheel, connecting means between t 1e operating wheel andgate, a trip shaft provided with an arm, and spaced spring memberssecured to said operating wheel and arranged upon opposite sides of thearm of the trip shaft to receive the impact thereof and adapted toneutralize the shock resulting from said impact.

3. In means for protecting a. railway crossing, the combination of agate, an o erating wheel, connecting means between tie operating wheeland gate, a trip shaft provided with an arm, and a U-shaped s ringsecured to a side of the operating whee and having its members free andarranged upon opposite sides of the arm of the trip shaft to receive andneutralize the impact thereof.

4. In safety means for railway crossings, the combination of a gate, ano erating Wheel, connecting means between tiie operating wheel and gate,spaced members attached to said operating wheel, a trip shaft having anarm arranged to operate between the said spaced members and providedwith a cross bar, and a spring normally exerting a pressure on the armsof said cross bar to maintain and return the trip shaft to normalposition.

5. In a safety means of the character specified, the combination of agate, an operating wheel 11 having connection with tie gate, operatingwheels 7 arranged upon opposite sides of the operating wheel 11, s acedmembers applied to a side of each of t e operating whee s 7, flexibleconnections between the operating wheel 7 and 11 to effect simultaneousmovement of the operating wheels 7 in op osite directions, trip shaftscooperating wit '1 the operating wheel 7, and arms rigid with the resective trip shafts and arranged to operate etween the spaced members ofthe operating wheel 7 to move the latter in one direction, and admittingof the arm returning to normal position without imparting movement tothe said operating wheel and gate.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETER HAMER. [L. s.]

'Witnesses:

C. TRENT, IV. R. SANDERS.

